Apple Cultivars and Their Uses

Michele WarmundDepartment of Horticulture

In choosing an apple cultivar to grow, your decision may hinge on many factors. Maybe you want to grow the same type of apples you've seen at farmers markets or supermarkets. Maybe you want to grow the same apple you had when you were a child. Maybe you want to try an apple you've never seen.

In choosing an apple, you need to consider several factors.

Is it adapted to Missouri?Some apples become soft in our summer heat. Some apples that grow well in drier climates develop russet (brown "scurfiness" on surface of the fruit) in Missouri because of the high humidity.

How much care do you want to give the apples? Some apples are very disease resistant and require few if any fungicides. Other apples will not produce a viable crop in Missouri without chemical sprays. Unfortunately there are no insect-resistant cultivars. Most apples become "wormy" from codling moth larvae without treatment.

What type of apple do you want?Summer apples are great for eating fresh but often have a short storage life. They should be consumed promptly. How many bushels of apples can you eat fresh? Many of the later ripening apples tend to have a prolonged storage life. However, even late-ripening apples held in a refrigerator will deteriorate about three months after harvest.

What about pollination?It takes at least two different types of apple for successful pollination. Crabapples that bloom at the same time as your apple trees work perfectly well as pollenizers. Apples also need bees to carry out pollination. Do not use insecticides near apple trees during flowering. Also remove dandelion flowers when apples are in bloom to encourage bees to pollinate apple flowers.

Which strain of a cultivar should you choose?As cultivars are grown, people are always looking for strains that might be earlier ripening, better colored, earlier coloring, spur type, etc. For example, Red Delicious apple has more than 40 strains currently available on the market. Some strains are better than others. This guide cannot include all possible strains; the fruit is described according to what would typically be expected for a cultivar. After reading a cultivar's description in this publication, contact a nursery for more information.

Characteristics of various disease-resistant and standard apple cultivars.

NoteDisease ratings are based on a collection of observations by MU personnel, Cornell Extension personnel, and as rated by commercial nurseries.

Very susceptible, disease control will be necessary

Susceptible, disease control will usually be needed

Resistant, control needed only under high pest pressure

Very resistant, no control necessary for this disease

Apple scab

Cedar apple rust

Powdery mildew

Fire blight

Scab-immune cultivars

Enterprise

Very resistant

Susceptible

Very resistant

Moderately resistant

Goldrush

Very resistant

Susceptible

Resistant

Resistant

Jonafree

Very resistant

Resistant

Susceptible

Resistant

Liberty

Very resistant

Very resistant

Resistant

Resistant

Pristine

Very resistant

Susceptible

Very resistant

Moderately resistant

Redfree

Very resistant

Resistant

Resistant

moderately susceptible

Williams' Pride

Very resistant

Resistant

Resistant

Resistant

Standard cultivars

Akane

moderately susceptible

Resistant

Resistant

Resistant

Arkansas Black

moderately susceptible

Resistant

Resistant

Resistant

Braeburn

Susceptible

Susceptible

Susceptible

Very susceptible

Cortland

Very susceptible

Susceptible

Very susceptible

Susceptible

Empire

Very susceptible

Resistant

Susceptible

Resistant

Fuji

Susceptible

Susceptible

Susceptible

Susceptible

Gala

Susceptible

Susceptible

Susceptible

Very susceptible

Golden Delicious

Susceptible

Very susceptible

Susceptible

Susceptible

Granny Smith

Susceptible

Resistant

Very susceptible

Very susceptible

Honeycrisp

Susceptible

Susceptible

Susceptible

Susceptible

Jonagold

Very susceptible

Very susceptible

Susceptible

Very susceptible

Jonamac

Susceptible

Resistant

Susceptible

Susceptible

Jonathan

Susceptible

Very susceptible

Very susceptible

Very susceptible

Lodi

Susceptible

Very susceptible

Resistant

Very susceptible

McIntosh

Very susceptible

Very resistant

Susceptible

Susceptible

Mutsu (Crispin)

Very susceptible

Susceptible

Very susceptible

Very susceptible

Northern Spy

Susceptible

Susceptible

Susceptible

Resistant

Ozark Gold

Susceptible

Susceptible

Susceptible

Susceptible

Paulared

Susceptible

Resistant

Susceptible

Very susceptible

Red Delicious

Susceptible

Very resistant

Resistant

Resistant

Rome Beauty

Very susceptible

Very susceptible

Susceptible

Very susceptible

Suncrisp

Susceptible

Susceptible

Susceptible

Susceptible

Harvest dates and fruit description for several apple cultivars

Note"Well-balanced" flavor refers to the balance of acids (sour/tart) and sugars (sweet) in the fruit. A very sweet fruit with very little acidity (e.g., Red Delicious) does not have well-balanced flavor. A fruit may be very high in acids but also have high levels of sugar for a well-balanced, full flavor.

Bland flavor; does not get the typical shape that those grown in the Pacific Northwest have

Redfree

Great color, flavor and texture for so early in the season

Prone to biennial bearing

Rome Beauty

Old favorite

Does not thrive in Missouri

Suncrisp

Firm, crisp texture

Fruit prone to russet; requires thinning to prevent biennial bearing

Williams' Pride

Flavor is good for early season

Turns soft with brown skin and flesh under high temperatures

Winesap

Old favorite; long keeper

Does not thrive in Missouri

York

Favorite of your grandparents; good keeper

Does not get as good a flavor as it might in the eastern United States

Primary use for selected varieties

NoteWith refrigeration

Short, a few weeks

Medium, 2 to 3 months

Long, 3 to 6 months

Very long, 6+ months

Cultivar

Fresh eating

Processing (sauce, baking)

Salad

Freezing

Storage

Akane

X

Medium

Arkansas Black

X

X

Very long

Braeburn

X

Very long

Cortland

X

X

X

Long

Empire

X

X

X

Long

Enterprise

X

X

Long

Fuji

X

Long

Gala

X

Medium

Golden Delicious

X

X

X

X

Long

Goldrush

X

X

Long

Granny Smith

X

X

X

Long

Honeycrisp

X

X

Long

Jonafree

X

Long

Jonagold

X

Medium

Jonalicious

X

Long

Jonamac

X

Long

Jonathan

X

X

X

Long

Liberty

X

X

X

Long

Lodi

X

Short

McIntosh

X

X

Long

Mutsu (Crispin)

X

X

X

X

Long

Northern Spy

X

Very long

Ozark Gold

X

X

Medium

Pristine

X

X

Short

Red Delicious

X

X

Long

Redfree

X

Short

Rome Beauty

X

Long

Spartan

X

X

X

Long

Suncrisp

X

X

X

Medium

Williams' Pride

X

Short

Winesap

X

X

Very long

York

X

X

Very long

NoteTables included in this publication present many popular apples that are grown in Missouri. These tables are not in any way designed to be all-inclusive. It is hoped that they will help you choose an apple to plant or help guide you in purchasing fruit.

For a description of apples not listed in these tables, particularly "antique" cultivars, you may want to check the following references.

Fruit, Berry, and Nut Inventory, available in libraries or from Seed Saver Publications (RR 3, Box 239, Decorah, IA 52101); a description of cultivars and where to buy them,

Register of New Fruit and Nut Varieties(R.M. Brooks and H.R. Olmo, 1952, University of California Press); available in libraries.